Press
British firms mull relocating to 'other side of Brexit curtain'
01 January 2021
Voice of America
“Manufacturers and farmers will face irksome checks at borders for things like customs, VAT (value added tax), safety and security, plant and animal health, and much more. Services companies will lose access to the single market unless they set up subsidiaries within it,” notes Charles Grant of the Centre for European Reform [CER], a London-based research organization.
Cambridge Radio: Roundabout with Tony Barnfield
31 December 2020
Chris Bradbury talks to Tony Barnfield about his Fenland Symphony, while Selwyn College alumnus Charles Grant, Director of the Centre for European Reform, talks about the Brexit deal and the UK’s future relationship with our continental neighbours.
Sovereignty First : 10 points sur le Brexit
30 December 2020
Le Grand Continent
Un commentaire que j’ai régulièrement entendu au cours des négociations sur le Brexit est resté gravé dans ma mémoire.
Euronews: Brexit foreign policy
30 December 2020
Ian Bond, director of foreign policy at the CER spoke to Euronews about UK-EU alignment and potential divergence on foreign policy after Brexit.
Bloomberg: Brexit marks rupture but issues won't disappear: Lowe
30 December 2020
In this week's episode of The Brussels Edition we look into the details of the Brexit trade deal after a last minute accord avoided a hard exit. While the deal does mark a point of rupture, it leaves details hanging that could cloud the City of London's outlook and keep both sides locked in talks for years to come as the deal gets implemented. That's according to Sam Lowe, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform. He spoke to Bloomberg's Maria Tadeo in Brussels.
MPs back Brexit deal with huge majority
30 December 2020
The Times
“The can has been kicked,” said Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform. “In the absence of an adequacy decision it would mean that it would become more difficult to store the data of private EU citizens on UK-based servers.” This could force businesses to pay to change where their data is held.
UK quietly shifts away from promise of 'deep' foreign and security links with EU
28 December 2020
The Guardian
Ian Bond, at the Centre for European Reform, can see three ways in which the UK and the EU might formally collaborate: on the exchange and protection of classified information, the participation of UK personnel in defence missions and operations, and UK participation in defence industrial co-operation through the European Defence Agency.
We’ll make City best for business post-Brexit, vows Rishi Sunak
28 December 2020
The Times
Sam Lowe, a trade policy expert at the Centre for European Reform, warned that even if equivalence was granted “we should not assume it will be permanent”. Anneliese Dodds, the shadow chancellor, said that the deal was “very thin” on financial services and that the government “needs to act speedily to sort that out”.
Committees, visas and climate change: Brexit experts' verdicts on the deal details
28 December 2020
The Guardian
Beyond tariffs, quotas and fish, the TCA contains a variety of provisions. Among those with implications for everyone engaged in business travel are the rules governing what Britons entering the EU are, and are not, allowed to do from 2021 onwards.
Brexit trade deal means ‘freedom’, but at a cost: The arguments will be far from over
27 December 2020
The Observer
The UK may have won the power to diverge from EU rules, but the new relationship will be one of constant renegotiation.
France and Germany retake reins as Britain leaves EU's economic orbit
27 December 2020
The Wall Street Journal
“On European defense, it is coming out in a very French way,” said Ian Bond, director of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform. “Strategic autonomy would not have got as far as it has done had the British still been at the table.”
Brexit: fishing chiefs cry ‘betrayal’ as MPs fear rush to ratify deal
27 December 2020
The Guardian
Sam Lowe, a trade expert at the Centre for European Reform, described this kind of arrangement in a trade deal as “unusual”. MPs are also concerned about the potential of the EU to impose tariffs on other types of exports, including cars, if UK-based manufacturers do not comply with Brussels’ rules on the origins of components used in production.
Boris Johnson admits Brexit deal is limited for financial services
27 December 2020
Financial Times
“This agreement was never going to do much in terms of financial market access,” said Sam Lowe of the Centre for European Reform. “It’s less than [what is] in the EU’s Canada and Japan agreements,” he added.
EU member states begin process to approve Brexit trade deal
26 December 2020
Financial Times
Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at think-tank the Centre for European Reform warned that businesses could face a “rocky readjustment period” in the new year. “While businesses will most certainly welcome the deal, they will suffer from the lack of an additional grace, or implementation, period to allow them more time to prepare for the change,” he said.
Boris Johnson delivered on Brexit. It may not soothe his unruly party
25 December 2020
The New York Times
“In the short term, the Tory Party is pretty united around the very hard Brexit that Boris Johnson pushed Britain toward but which many Britons never thought they were voting for,” said Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, a research institute.
Brexit deal betrayal: EU reserves right to 'suspend deal' if UK drifts away from ECHR
25 December 2020
Express
Camino Mortera-Martinez, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, wrote on Twitter: "As expected the 'Trade and Co-operation Deal' covers both trade and co-operation on matters such as law enforcement, civil and criminal judicial matters and research. It contains an additional 'horizontal' chapter on governance.
Brexit trade deal explained: The key parts of the landmark agreement
25 December 2020
Financial Times
Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at think-tank the Centre for European Reform, said the deal “did little to maintain existing market access for UK services providers” and the UK had failed to secure ambitious provisions, relying on “vaguer commitments that offer little in practice”.
BBC News - Business daily: Brexit talks continue ahead of likely deal
24 December 2020
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform spoke to Business Daily about the ongoing Brexit talks.
Brexit deal: UK announces 'Canada-style' arrangement with EU after December 31
24 December 2020
Euronews
Charles Grant, the director of the Centre for European Reform, said the deal was "thin" and that negotiations would likely be ongoing. "When the Brits realise what a thin deal they've got, their politicians will debate how/whether to improve it. Labour is likely to seek closer economic & security ties. For one reason or another, UK & EU will be in permanent negotiation, for at least 50 years. Ask the Swiss," Grant tweeted.
Ireland can't hope to avoid the pitfalls of Brexit
19 December 2020
Independent (Ireland)
Confusion over product labelling, safety standards and customs rules means companies could also be looking at future product recalls, fines and even imprisonment as they trade under a new regime, according to the Centre for European Reform’s (CER) Sam Lowe.“It is not a question of whether companies will break the law – they will – but how vigorously the EU and UK authorities choose to enforce the new rules,” Mr Lowe said.